Spicy Cucumber and Black Bean Salad

This salad with bold Asian flavors is perfect with black beans but works with other hearty beans, such as kidney, red, or even pinto beans. Serve with shrimp, pork chops, or skirt or hanger steak.

Ingredients

• For the beans

  • 8 oz. dried black beans (about 1 cup), sorted and rinsed
  • 1 small onion (about 4 oz.), peeled and halved
  • 3 medium cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
  • Kosher salt

  For the dressing

  • 1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar
  • 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbs. sesame oil; more for serving

  For the salad

  • 1 English cucumber (about 15 oz.), cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices, slices quartered (about 23/4 cups)
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into small dice (about 1 cup)
  • 2 cups cooked, cooled long-grain white rice (about 9 oz.)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbs. chili garlic sauce; more to taste
  • 1/2 cup Fried Shallots
  • 1/3 cup roasted salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
  • Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

• • Preparation
  • 
    

    • Make the beans

      • Put the black beans in a medium pot, and cover with cold water by 2 inches. Cover the pot, and soak the beans for 6 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Uncover and add the onion and garlic. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, skim any foam from the surface, then reduce the heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and creamy but still retain their shape, about 70 minutes. Remove from the heat, and discard the onion and garlic. Season the beans with 1 Tbs. salt. Let the beans cool to room temperature in their liquid.

      Make the dressing

      • In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil.

      Make and serve the salad

      • In a colander set over a large bowl, toss the cucumber with 1 tsp. salt. Let sit for 10 minutes. Discard any liquid. Transfer the cucumber to a small bowl and add the carrot.
      • Drain the beans. Transfer the beans to a large bowl and stir in the rice. Spoon 1/4 cup of the dressing over the rice and beans, and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the rice and beans to a serving platter.
      • Stir the chili sauce into the remaining dressing, and pour over the cucumber and carrot. Toss to combine. Spoon the vegetables over the rice and beans. Top with the shallots, peanuts, and cilantro, if using